Water level indicator for electrically heated steam iron



Dec. 10, 1940. J wlGGlNS 2,224,206

WATER LEVEL INDICATOR FOR ELECTRICALLY HEATED STEAM IRON Original Filed Dec. 13, 1939 24 a v /2 43 5 4/ I d7 42 I 49 Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATER LEVEL INDICATOR FOR ELECTRI- CALLY HEATED STEAM IRON Edward J. Wiggins, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Jack Galter, Chicago, Ill.

1 Claim.

This is a divisional application from the original Serial No. 308,893 filed December 13, 1939, now Patent 2,190,904 issued February 20, 1940, by the United States Patent Oifice, for Electrically 5 heated steam iron.

This invention relates to an indicator visible at the exterior of an electrically heated steam iron so that the amount of water in the iron may be determined at any time during its use without 10 interrupting the operation of the same.

Among the objects of this invention is to provide a simple yet accurate means for indicating from the exterior of the iron the level of the water contained therein, so as to prevent un- 15 expected scorching from a dry iron. My invention also contemplates such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by my invention.

20 While I have shown in the accompanying drawing a preferred form of my invention, yet I wish it understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

25 Referring to the drawing, Fig.' 1 is a sectional view of a steam iron with my water level indicator; Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view, and Fig. 3 is a top plan view with the handle plate removed.

so In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention I disclose an electrically heated steam iron with a shoe plate 10 having a smooth outer bottom ironing or pressing surface I l and a body member l2 attached to saidshoe plate l0. Be-

35 tween said shoe plate l and body member I2 is an electrical element IS.

The body member I2 is hollow so as to provide a water chamber I1. Within the water chamber I! is a steam chamber l8. A steam delivery tube 40 31 passes from the steam chamber l8 downwardly to a plurality of steam openings 40' in the shoe plate 10.

An opening 41 is provided in the top of the body portion l2 within which water may be poured for 45 the water chamber I1. This opening is protected by a removable thumb nut type of screw 48.

At the rear of the iron, electrical plugs 49 communicating with the electrical element I! in the iron are provided for contact with an electrical source of supply.

The outer top 22 of the body member I2 has a recess 23 with an indented flange 24 to receive the handle plate 25. Screws 26 attach the handle plate 25 to the flange 24. A handle 21 is attached to the handle plate 25.

Attached to the bottom of the handle plate 25 is a cradle 4| having a bar 42 rotatably attached thereto. Attached to said bar 42 is a rod 50 having on its inner end a nonabsorbable float 43 and on its outer end an indicator 44. The float 43 extends into the water chamber I! through recess 23 and floats on the water. The indicator 44 is visible through window 46 in the handle plate 25 so that the level of the water may be determined from the exterior of the iron. In this way there is no need to iron until the iron is drythe objects ironed being scorched and the iron impaired. The indicator easily and readily seen warns the user in advance of trouble.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In combination with an electrically heated steam iron having a hollow body member providing'a water chamber, said body member having removably covered entrance means for the reception of water for the water chamber. a handle plate removably attached to the top of said body member, a handle attached to the top of said handle plate, a water level indicator comprising a cradle attached to thebottom of said handle plate, a bar rotatably attached to said cradle, a rod attached to said bar, a nonabsorbable float attached to the lower end of said rod and adapted to float on the water in the water chamber, an indicator attached to the upper end of said rod,

a transparent window positioned in said handle plate, said rod so positioned that said indicator is always visible from the exterior of the iron through said window, said float adapted to be moved to positions determined by the level of the water in the water chamber and in turn to move said indicator before said window in said handle plate to indicate the level of water in the water chamber, said water level indicator removable 45 from the iron upon removal therefrom of the handle plate. 1

EDWARD J. WIGGINS. 

